Container holding device and package



y 1969 F. J. ORTHOBER 3,458,035

CONTAINER HOLDING DEVICE AND PACKAGE Filed July 11. 1967 a v I F 32 I)! (Man, I 0 1 W y/a United States Patent Us. or. 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of containers are each provided with peripheral rims and an upwardly projecting spout. A pair of identical devices are provided at the ends of the containers for holding the same in juxtaposition.

Background The invention relates to packages and more particularly to a plurality of containers and means for joining the containers to form a package. Epoxys, such as epoxy marine finishes, are ordinarily packaged in separate containers and the ingredients must be mixed by the consumer. The ingredients are usable only when combined and, at least in some cases, the ingredients are to be combined in equal parts. Additionally, one may often desire to use only a portion of the packaged quantities. Identical containers held in side-by-side relationship allow measurement in equal amounts by pouring simulaneously from the containers. The containers have been joined by soldering; however, this harms the finish of the containers, and rust spots soon appear.

Summary The present invention relates to a unique package and more particularly to a package including a plurality of containers having pouring spouts, and new and useful means for holding the containers in juxtaposition.

It is an object of this invention to provide a package including containers having pouring spouts and means for holding the containers so that the ingredients may be simultaneously dispensed therefrom.

Another object is to provide a package including containers having pouring spouts disposed above the remainder of the package, and arranged so that identical packages can be readily stacked.

Still another object is to provide a package including containers having ingredients to be mixed to provide a colored material, and means for holding the containers and having a color approximating that of the material.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Drawing Description Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

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In the embodiment illustrated, a pair of containers, generally designated 10 and 10, are shown in side-by-side relation. The containers are of generally identical size and shape, and are illustrated of a type having a generally rectangular cross section as taken in a horizontal plane. Container 10 includes side walls 11-14, an upper end 15 and a lower end 16. The lower end and the side walls are joined together in the usual manner to form a rim 16a extending around the periphery of the container. In a similar manner, the upper end 15 and the side walls are joined to form a rim 15a. Rims 15a and 16a are preferably identical in size and shape for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. As can be seen in the drawings, the upper rim 15a extends upwardly from the upper end 15 and outwardly from the side walls of the container. In a similar fashion, lower rim 16a extends downwardly and outwardly. Upper end 15 is provided with an opening through which extends a pouring spout 17 which is provided with a cap or closure 18 in the usual manner. As stated, container 10' is identical to container 10; accordingly, like parts are indicated by the same numeral followed by the postscript prime As indicated above, in certain situations it is desirable to dispense identical quantities of the materials in the containers. This can be accomplished by pouring simultaneously from the containers, and thus it is desirable that the containers be held in side-by-side relation. For this purpose, a device or holder, generally designated 30, is provided for engaging the top rims 15a, 15a of containers 10 and 10', respectively. The holder includes a spanning portion 31 overlying and engaged with the end 15. Spanning portion 31 is provided with an Opening for the passage of the spout 17 therethough. In a similar fashion, the holder is provided with a second spanning portion 32 which closely overlies end 15 and is provided with an opening for the passage of spout 17'. Since the spouts 17 and 17 are offset to one side of the container, the openings in spanning portions 31 and 32 are advantageously elongated so that the holder may be applied to the packages without regard to the location of the spout. In other words, the holder could be reversed so that spanning portion 31 overlies end portion 15, for example.

A peripherally continuous top portion 34 overlies t-op rims 15a and 15a. A first continuous inner wall portion 35 connects spanning portion 31 with top portion 34 and is engaged with the inner side of the top rim 15a. A second inner Wall portion 36 similarly connects spanning portion 32 with top portion 34 and is engaged with the inside of rim 15a. An outer wall 38 depends from the outer extremity of top portion 34 and extends continuously around the outside of containers 10 and 10' at the top end thereof. Thus, outer wall portion 38 extends around three sides of each of the containers. A bead 39 extends inwardly at the lower extremity of the outer wall 38 and underlies the top rims 15a, 15a. An intermediate wall 41 (see FIG. 3) depends from the top portion 34 and extends between the adjacent portions of the top rim of the two containers. Wall 41 is engaged with each top rim at the adjacent fiat sides of the containers to hold the containers in spaced relationship. At the underside of holder 30, inner wall portion 35, top portion 34, outer wall 38, and intermediate wall 41 define a pair of grooves 42 and 44 at the periphery of containers 10 and 10'. The grooves receive the top rims 15a and 15a, respectively. The holder is preferably made of a resilient material to allow the holder to be readily engaged with the rims and to securely hold the containers. For example, any synthetic resin of sufiicient resiliency for this purpose and sufiicient strength to hold the containers is suitable.

Preferably, an identical holder, generally designated 30', is engaged with the bottom rims 16a, 16a of the containers. Since holders 30 and 30 are identical, further description is deemed unnecessary. In considering FIG. 5, however, it can be seen that the openings in the bottom holder 30' advantageously receive the upwardly extending spout and cap so that the packages may be conven iently stacked.

As explained above, the containers may hold generally equal quantities of two separate materials for simultaneous pouring from the containers to form a colored finishing product. Since the color of neither of the ingredients is indicative of the color of the finished product, the holders 30 and 30' are advantageously tinted a color approximating that of the finished product to provide an indication of the products color.

The holders 30 and 30 may be applied to the containers either before or after filling. If applied after filling, the containers can be filled on separate lines and then held in juxtaposition by the applied holders. If applied before filling, the holders have the additional function of positioning the containers relative to each other as they are processed through the filling operation, Thus, it can be seen that the holders serve versatile functions during packaging.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modification will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a package including a pair of containers in sideby-side relationship, each container having top and bottom ends and identical outwardly projecting peripheral rims at said ends, the bottom end being at a level above the bottom rim and the top end being entirely at a level below the top rim, each container also having a pouring spout at the top end rising to a level above the top rim and a cap providing a closure for the spout, the combination therewith of: a first device for holding the containers in juxtaposition and including a top portion overlying and engaging the top rim of each container and having an upper level below the upper level of the caps so the caps can be readily gripped and removed, a circumferentially continuous skirt portion depending from the top portion outwardly of each top rim, inwardly extending means on the skirt portion for underlying and engaging at least a portion of each top rim to retain the device on the containers, the device having at least one opening of sufficient size for the passage of the spouts and caps therethrough, and a second device generally identical with the first device and engaged with the bottom rims of the containers to cooperate with the first device to hold the containers in side-by-side relationship.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom ends are flat and spaced a preselected distance from the outer edge of their respective rims, and wherein the top portion of the first device has its upper level approximately midway between the level of the top end and the top of the cap so that a second identical package may be stacked upon the first with the caps of the first package accommodated in the opening the second device of the second package.

3. A package including, in combination, only a pair of upright containers of identical shape and volume; a first material in one of the containers; a second material in the other container and mixable with the first material in equal quantities to form a colored finishing product; the containers having generally fiat vertical sides in juxtaposition, top and bottom ends, and an upwardly and outwardly extending rim at the top end; each container having a pouring spout rising from the top end to a level above the rim; and a device of resilient deformable material having a color approximating that of said mixed finishing product, said device operative for engaging the top rims of the containers and holding the containers in said position for simultaneous pouring of the first and second materials therefrom to dispense generally equal quantities of the materials, the device having a pair of openings therein for passage of the pouring spouts therethrough, peripheral groove means for receiving the top rim of each container, at peripherally continuous top portion overlying the top rim of each container, peripheral wall means depending from the top portion for engaging the outer extremity of the rim of each container, and the wall means including a common wall disposed between the top rims at the fiat sides and having both sides of the common wall engaged with said rims to hold the same in spaced relationship; and means at the bottom of the container for holding the bottom ends in similar relationship.

4. A package as set forth in claim 3 wherein the containers each have a downwardly and outwardly extending rim at the bottom end generally identical to the top rim, and wherein the last-mentioned means comprises a second device for engaging the bottom rims, the second device being identical to the device engaging the top rims, and the openings in the second device operative for receiving the pouring spouts of a second identical package when the packages are stacked.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,984,570 12/ 1934 Emmons 22020 2,358,795 9/1944 Djidics et al. 2,687,231 8/1954 Somers. 3,199,908 8/ 1965 Poupitch. 3,224,575 12/1965 Whiteford. 3,258,288 6/1966 Courter.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, 111., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 220-97 

